Suction cleaner



April 1940- E. H. YONKERS, JR 2,198,568

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Sept. 8, 1957 Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Edward H. Yonkers, Jr., Evanston, Ill.

Application September 8, 1937, Serial No. 162,882

8 Claims. (Cl. 183-37) This invention relates to a suction cleaner and Both the treated and untreated paper have exmore particularly to the suction generating and cellent air transmitting properties and by choosdust storage portion thereof. In the convening the proper thickness, any desired filtering tional household cleaners, the dust laden air is action may be obtained. By having a viscose sucked into a closely woven bag which is suptreated paper, it has been observed that little 5 posed to permit the air to escape and trap the dust sticks to the smooth filter surface. dust and dirt. In the operation of such a ma- By a smooth surfaced porous paper filter I chine the dust and dirt is carried into the bag mean a mat of long fibres of cellulose preferand distributed over its inner surfaces so that ably though other suitable material may be used 10 the resistance to the passage of air through the such as glass fibres, cellulose acetate or nitrate 10 bag is progressively increased during the normal fibers, etc., so processed that the ends of the accumulation of dust in the bag in use. This fibers are tied into the structure either by meresults in a progressive decrease in the efflciency chanical treatment or by the addition of a ceof the cleaner unless the bag is cleaned frementing material such as precipitated cellulose.

quently. During the operation of the machine, the esters of cellulose or other binding matethe suction tends to pile up the dust against the rials which may be introduced without subbag. In the case of fine dust, there is a tendency stantially reducing the porosity of the paper. for the filter interstices to become filled and I have found that such a smooth surfaced filter trap the air. when placed over a dust container provides so.

An object of this invention is to devise a conlittle adhesion that a heavy accumulation of dust 20 struction in which the filter tends to clean itself and dirt is not p ss b e. he dust and dirt flakand wherein the main body of dirt is not sucked ing oil from the action of gravity aided by the up against the filter surface. An additional draft of incoming air and falling into the conobject is to provide a filter medium which is more tainer below.

5 efilcient than a fabric in that a greater per- In the drawing, Figure 11s a sectional view of centage of cross-sectional area is accessible for the machine and Figure 2 is a line on 2-2 of the passage of air, but wherein such passages are F gure 1. so fine as to prevent any but finest dust from A D p e y 0f metal. is p d n passing through. An additional object is to prothe side wall thereof with an air inlet H. As

vide such a filter medium in a machine wherein s n in Fi u air inlet ll f ra ly has e 3e said filter tends to maintain itself in a clean connozzle l2 which comes out of wall I! of the pan. dition. An additional object is to provide a. filhe nozzle I2 is fiat and angularly disposed to ter medium of the above character of such cheap discharge fl Stream Of Substantially D construction and so readily replaceable as to ren- 'allel to the conical filter element to be later deder the frequent changes of filter easy and cheap c ed. The rim p is flared w d y at 35 an th permit id u ti n ma hine t oper- IE to form a shoulder and then extends upwardate at maximum efliciency. 1y at "5 to terminate in a bead ll. Disposed An additional object of this invention is to dearound the i within the shoulder p on therevise electric means tending to precipitate fine 0f,1$ a rubber gasket 21? p ich t e entire 40 dust and to generate ozone whereby a sterilizing mechanism 8 upp t d 40 action on air passing through results. The mechanism proper is supported by an an- In this connection, the ozone generating means nular plate 2! having an inner edge 22 bent down operating on air pumped through the cleaner to form a bead and havin a c cu contour. system will have a tendency to oxidize odor bear- Supported on the beaded edge 22 of plate 2i are ing compounds and freshen the air. As is well two comple e u s 5 and 6. Bo h 45 known, a supply of ozone is desirable and exerts housings terminate in flanges 2? and 28 which beneficial effects, are adapted to be disposed face to face. A rub- The paper from which the filter is made is her rin 30 encloses the pp s flan s and commercially sold under the name of Dextilose. serves as the supporting means on the beaded It is similar to Japanese tissue in that the paper edge 22. Top housing 25, which may be of any 50 is formed of long fine cellulose fibers equally shape d sired n is h r own of a ner lly strong in all directions without any sizing. This cylindrical shape with a flaring portion 3! at paper may be treated with viscose which tends to the bottom. is epertured at e op at 32. bind the fine fiber ends extending from the pa- Supported from the top portion by means of per surface and forms a smooth satin finish. bolts 33, is an electric motor 35. Motor 34 is 5 provided with a shaft which preferably extends from both sides thereof. Shaft 35 at the bottom end carries an air impeller 36 of usual construction, and at the top, may carry a second stage air impeller 31. Housing 25 extends downwardly as shown and the bottom 42 thereof is provided with a central aperture 38. As is evident from the drawing, bottom 42 of housing 25 is near impeller 36 while aperture 36 permits air to be sucked into the center of the impeller and expelled outwardly therefrom by centrifugal action. Motor 34 is small enough so that an annular space 40 around the motor and within housing 26 is provided. It is clear that air from the periphery of impeller-36 is thrown outwardly toward the junction point of the two housings and then forced upwardly around the motor. This air passes through aperture 32 in the upper housing and into the center of impeller 31 and thence outwardly. To firmly support housing 26 against motor. 34, embossings 4| may be provided in housing 26 to bear against the motor frame.

Disposed around housing 26 is a larger housing similar in shape and indicated by numeral 43. This housing, which is preferably of metal, as the other housings, terminates in a fiat mounting portion 44 parallel to plate 2|. Between mounting portion 44 and plate 2| an annular ring is provided which extends inwardly to housing 26 and serves to cover rubber ring 30 as well as serving as a bottom support for a mass of steel wool 41 packed between the two housings 26 and 43. Housing 43 may be lined with felt or paper throughout its surface to function as a sound deadening medium. The steel wool, or any other suitable material, functions in a similar capacity as a sound deadening medium and to break up any vibration transmitted from the center of the device to the outer housing. Ring 45 and portion 44 of outer housing 43 are permanently attached to plate 2| in any suitable fashion such as by spot welding. Housing 43 and paper liner 50 are provided with a plurality of apertures 5| through which air from the impeller 31 may escape through the steel wool. It is understood, of course, that either the steel wool or the paper insulation or both may be omitted if desired.

The entire motor driven unit supported by plate 2| is disposed over pan l0 as a cover and between the edge 52 of plate 2| and rubber gasket 20, a conical filter element is disposed.

This filter element comprises a wire screen member 55 having a fiat rim 56 adapted to rest under rim 52 of plate 2|. Screen 55 extends downwardly, and, as shown here, forms a cone whose apex is within pan I0. Disposed below metal screen supporting member 55 is a paper filter 60 provided with a rim 6| adapted to rest directly on rubber gasket 20. Filter member 60 is preferably preformed to fit the conical surface of screen 55 and as previously pointed out, is preferably made of a special paper characterized by long fine fibers having no grain, similar to Japanese tissue and sold under the trade name of Dextilose. It is preferred to have this viscose treated in order to bind the loose fiber ends extending like hairs from the surface of the paper and thus give the paper a smooth satin finish. In the viscose treatment the dissolved cellulose merely coats the solid paper matter and does not tend to close any of the pores of the paper inherent in the construction thereof.

Supported at the apex of the cone of screen 55 by means of a bracket is a transformer 66 having primary 6! and a secondary 68. Primary 6'! is energized by wires 10 connected to cord II for supplying the motor, while secondary 68 has one terminal thereof grounded to the transformer and the other terminal connected to a series of metal brushes I6 extending upwardly toward the motor. The transformer is adapted to step up the supply current to currents at voltages of the order of 10,000 or more volts. Brushes I5 are filamentary in form and are more like a wire comb through which air may readily pass. The tips of'the brushes face a mica ring 16 carried by the bottom portion 42'of lower housing 25.

In the operation of the device, air sucked in through aperture II is given a rotary motion around the conical filter. Nozzle i2 is so designed that no direct blast of air impinges on the filter element since solid particles travelling at a high velocity would tear the paper. The whirling motion of the air around the conical filter serves to centrifugally separate the heavy particles of dust. The air finally passes through paper filter 60 and screen 56 and past brush I5 and into the center of impeller 36, and then continues on as pointed out above. Because of the high voltage generated by transformer 66, a brush discharge from wires 15 is formed. Inasmuch as the transformer secondary is grounded, the discharge tends to go from wires 15 along the mica to the lower'housing 25. The difference in area of the opposing metal surfaces is such that a rectifier action is obtained with the brushes tending to emit electrons. This rectified brush discharge imparts an electric charge to whatever fine dust particles may have passed through the paper filter and tends to precipitate such dust against the machine in general which is predominantly positively charged. In addition, the brush discharge, by virtue of ionizing the air, has a germicidal action which is communicated to all of the air in the room during the operation of the machine.

It is not necessary to bolt plate 2| with the entire mechanism on pan l0, since the air pressure on plate 2| tends to seal the mechanism against rubber gasket 20.

A partition 80 is provided in the bottom of pan l3 to break up any circular air currents at the bottom and thus permit dust and dirt to remain settled during the operation of the device.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suction cleaner, a housing having a dust compartment in the bottom thereof, a conical air filter covering said compartment and extending inwardly thereof, said filter consisting of paper, a perforated conical support disposed above said filter for preventing collapse thereof, a motor and suction fan assembly including an air exhaust supported by said housing above said filter and an air intake for said housing below said filter, said air intake being suitably shaped and disposed to direct the incoming air tangentially along the surface of the paper filter.

2. In a suction cleaner, a housing having a dust compartment in the bottom thereof, a generally conical air filter forming the top cover of said compartment with the apex of the cone extending inwardly toward the bottom of said compartment, said filter comprising a perforated support- 3. In a suction cleaner, a generally cylindrical pan comprising a dust compartment, a generally conical air filter Supported on the rim of said pan with the apex of the cone extending inwardly, said filter comprising a perforated rigid supporting member and a flexible filter against said supporting member, a cover for said pan adapted to engage said rim, a motor and fan carried by said cover and extending over said air filter for exhausting purposes, and an air intake into said pan below said filter including a nozzle for discharging dirt-laden air adjacent to and parallel with the filter surface.

4. In a suction cleaner, a housing having a dust compartment in the bottom thereof, a generally conical fragile filter forming a cover for at least part of said compartment and extending down therein, a perforated member above said filter for supporting and maintaining said filter against collapse, means for generating a suction above said filter, an air intake for said housing below said filter, and means for guiding the incoming dirt-laden air so that the air takes a generally circular path generally parallel to the filter surface and adjacent thereto.

5. In a suction cleaner, a housing having a dust compartment in the bottom thereof, a fragile filter forming a cover for said compartment, said filter having a surface of revolution, a rigid perforated member on one side of said filter having the same shape and against which said filter is adapted to be disposed for supporting and maintaining said filter against collapse, means for generating a suction on said one side of said filter, an air intake for said housing on the other side of said filter for supplying dirt-laden air, and means for guiding the incoming air so that the air takes a generally circular path generally parallel to the filter surface and adjacent thereto.

6. In a suction cleaner, 9. housing having a dust compartment in the bottom thereof, a convex fragile filter forming a cover for saidcompartment and extending down therein, said filter having a surface of revolution with the generating line being revolved about a vertical axis, a rigid perforated member above said filter having a similar shape for supporting and maintaining said filter against collapse, means for generating a suction above said filter, an air intake for said housing below said filter, and means for guiding the incoming dirt-laden air' so that the air takes a generally circular path around said axis and generally parallel to the filtersurface and adjacent thereto.

7. In a suction cleaner, a housing having a dust compartment in the bottom thereof, at least a portion of the side wall of which housing compartment is cylindrical in form, a generally conical fragile filter forming a cover for the cylindrical portion of said compartment and extending .down therein in coaxial relation therewith, a perforated memberabove' said filter for supporting and maintaining said filter against collapse, means for generating a suction above said filter, an air intake for said housing below said filter, and means for guiding the incoming dirtladen air so that the air takes a generally circular path generally parallel to the cylindrically co- 1 axially housed filter surface and adjacent thereto.

8. In a suction cleaner, the combination of an open-topped cylindrical dust receptacle having an annular portion adapted to receive and support a filter element, a generally conical flexible filter element marginally supported upon said annular receptacle portion against downward movement, and a removable group constituting a cover for said compartment and a retainer for holding said filter in said recited association with said dust compartment, said group including a motor-driven suction-generating means and a perforated generally conical filter support bearing upon the receptacle-supported marginal portion of said filter element, complementarily fitted within the filter element proper and bracing same against collapse under diii'erential air pressure induced by said suction-generating. means.

EDWARD H. YONKERS, JR. 

